Floor markings can play an important role in improving various aspects of a workshop environment including productivity, efficiency, navigation, accessibility and of course, safety.
A safe work environment should be every workshop’s number one priority and, in this article, we’ll discuss how floor markings are a key factor in improving the safety in a workshop.
We’ll first discuss where and why floor and line markings can be used and then you’ll learn why epoxy flooring is an excellent option because safety markings and colour-coded safety zones can be custom-designed and built into the floor during installation.
You can read more about concrete floor coatings for workshops and factory floors on our website.
Where and why should floor markings be used in a workshop?
Occupational health and safety regulations stipulate that colour-coded lines have to be drawn on a floor system to identify various places such as loading areas, cross-walks, hazardous areas, exclusion areas, exit routes, passageways etc.
Visual communication is an essential tool for maintaining a safe workplace. Floor markings like lines, shapes and colour-coded areas are visually impactful and easy to understand navigational cues and create a safer workspace for employees and visitors alike.
Here are some of the ways floor markings can be used in your workshop to make your space safer:
- Delineate safe pedestrian areas and walkways for employees and visitors
- Indicate areas for vehicle traffic, forklifts and other heavy machinery
- Demarcate exclusion or restricted access zones
- Alert personnel to hazardous areas such as electrical boxes
- Speed up response/reaction times in the event of an emergency
Why you need to plan your floor markings carefully
Occupational health and safety isn’t something to be taken lightly and the more thought and planning you put into reducing risk in your workshop environment, the less chance there’ll be of workplace accidents. That’s why it’s helpful to discuss your unique circumstances with a safety flooring professional before making any final decisions.
For example, they will be familiar with the OH&S guidelines and will be able to advise on the specific colours required for certain line markings.
What colours should be used for line markings?
Colour-coded line markings make it easier for personnel to get around an industrial facility and they are standardised in Australia according to the national health and safety guidelines.
Red lines Danger zones
Yellow lines Pathways, work areas and traffic lanes
Black lines Works in progress
Blue lines Raw materials handling areas
Red/white combination Restricted access and exclusion zones
In conclusion
There’s no doubt that floor markings play a vital role in lowering the risk of workplace accidents and improving the overall safety and efficiency of any type of industrial workplace.
Our team of safety flooring professionals at Panther Protective has extensive experience in designing floor markings across the spectrum of industry to optimise safety and productivity in industrial environments. We are Perth’s most trusted safety flooring specialists and have installed epoxy flooring systems across all industries since 1999.
We offer a reliable end-to-end service to protect and improve your walls and floors. Our extensive expertise with epoxy and resin flooring systems means we’re able to help you find the very best safety solution for your workshop floors. We’ll advise you on the recognised codes of practice and Australian Standards plus we can tailor a solution to your specific requirements.
If you would like an obligation-free chat to see how our hard-wearing and long-lasting coloured safety zones and line markings could ‘markedly’ improve your workshop operation and safety, please contact us as our team would love to help you.
